# Postem (sp?) the drink - What is it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104 "2004-05-07T23:56:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/1 "2004-05-07T23:56:04Z")
I was watching Seinfeld tonight (the one with the Pez) and George made of list of things to talk to his girlfriend about on the phone and one of things to talk about was how postem (sp?) was an underrated drink. What is postem (sp?)? Is it a brand-name or a type of drink? ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/2 "2004-05-08T00:01:07Z")
Postum. All I think I know is it is a caffeine-free coffee substitute. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/3 "2004-05-08T00:03:54Z")
Postum® is a grain-based caffeine-free hot beverage created in 1894 by C. W. Post, founder of Post cereals. ---
**Author:** ![JRootabega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@JRootabega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRootabega)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/4 "2004-05-08T00:06:34Z")
Basically it is a hot cup of burnt toast. But on the smoother end of the spectrum rather than the pungent. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/5 "2004-05-08T00:07:26Z")
[LINK](http://web.kraftfoods.com/postcereals/cereal_postum.html) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/6 "2004-05-08T00:10:29Z")
[Postum](http://www.commerce-database.com/Nouns/Postum.htm) > [@](#): > > trade mark for a coffee substitute invented by C. W. Post and made with chicory and roasted grains The [ingredients have changed since Post invented](http://www.posttexas.com/C.W.Post%20history.htm#Postum) drink in 1894: > [@](#): > > (C.W. Post) systematically began work on his coffee substitute. After a year of relentless work and experimentation, a suitable substitute was developed from wheat, bran and molasses, which he thought was tastier than chicory. He gave his mixture the name, Postum Food Coffee. At this time, 1894, not many food stuffs were advertised. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/7 "2004-05-08T01:01:43Z")
Postum is to [Mr. Coffee Nerves](http://www.lileks.com/comics/coffnerv/coff1/index.html) as Kryptonite is to Superman. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/postem-sp-the-drink-what-is-it/244104/8 "2004-05-08T01:39:41Z")
Based on the flavor, I always assumed it was fine-ground burnt croutons. I may be wrong, though.